Verbena plant named ‘VVIPU08-0’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Verbena  cultivar named ‘VVIPU08-0’ is disclosed, characterized by a compact, trailing plant habit, flexible stems and distinctive purple to red-purple flowers. The new variety is a  Verbena,  typically produced as a garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Verbena hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘VVIPU08-0’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The newvariety originated from a cross pollination of the seed parent, anunnamed, unpatented proprietary selection of Verbena hybrid with thepollen parent a different unnamed, unpatented Verbena hybrid. Thecrossing was made during the Summer of 2009, at a research greenhouse inMunster, Germany. ‘VVIPU08-0’ was discovered by the inventor, HubertusVolmary, a citizen of Germany, at the same research greenhouse duringthe Spring of 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘VVIPU08-0’ was first performedin Munster Germany, at a commercial greenhouse by vegetative cuttings inSummer of 2010. ‘VVIPU08-0’ has since produced several generations andhas shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘VVIPU08-0’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘VVIPU08-0.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘VVIPU08-0’ as a new and distinct Verbenacultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, trailing plant habit.    -   2. Highly floriferous plants    -   3. Flexible, non-brittle stems.    -   4. Distinctive purple to red-purple flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘VVIPU08-0’ grown outdoors in Oxnard, Calif. This plantis approximately 2 months old, shown in a 6 inch pot.

The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Colour Chart, 2001, except where general terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used. The following observations andmeasurements describe ‘VVIPU08-0’ plants in a commercial greenhouse inOxnard, California. Temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 29° C. night andday. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemicaltreatments were given to the plants. Natural light conditions wereapproximately 2500 to 4000 fc of light. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena hybrid ‘VVIPU08-0’.

PROPAGATION

-   Propagation method: Vegetative Cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots: About 5 to 7 days at 20.degree. C. to    25.degree. C.-   Root description: Fine, densely fibrous.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 2 months from a rooted    cutting.-   Pot size of plant described: 6 inch pot.-   Height: Approximately 5 cm from soil line of pot to top of foliar    plane. Approximately 10 cm from soil line of pot to top of uppermost    flowers.-   Plant spread: Approximately 33 cm.-   Growth rate: Rapid.-   Growth habit: Spreading.-   Branching characteristics: Free branching.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Average 11 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.3 cm.-   Quantity of primary lateral branches: Approximately 30.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Ridges colored near            Violet 86A.        -   Texture.—Hirsute. Hairs less than 1 mm. Stems also strongly            ridged.        -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.-   Internode length: Average 2.2 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 8 to 10 fully expanded leaves per            primary lateral branch with approximately 8 less developed            leaves.        -   Average length.—2.9 cm.        -   Average width.—1.9 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Narrow deltoid.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Oblique.        -   Margin.—Deeply crenate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Hirsute.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Hirsute.        -   Aspect.—Slightly cupped upward.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 143A. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Mature            foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137B. Mature foliage            under side: Near RHS Green 137D.        -   Venation.—Type: Palmate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Green 143C. Venation color under side: Near RHS Green 143D.        -   Attachment.—Stalked.        -   Petiole.—Length: Average 0.8 cm. Diameter: Average 0.15 cm.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: Upper surface: Near RHS Green            143C. Lower surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144D.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring and Summer.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Flat top umbel.    -   -   Umbel depth.—Average 3.8 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—Average 7.2 cm.-   Individual flower form: Salverform.-   Individual flowers per umbel: Average 10 fully opened flowers with 4    to 6 buds.-   Umbels per plant: More than 20 umbels with open flowers, on a mature    plant.-   Flower longevity on plant: Approximately 1 week for individual    flowers, approximately 3 weeks for entire umbel.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Length.—1.4 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144D at base, apex near            Yellow-Green 144C.-   Corolla:-   Petals (measured from separation at top of tube):    -   -   Number.—5.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.1 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 1.0 cm.        -   Tube opening diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Tube/throat length.—Approximately 1.9 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—Average 2.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Overall deltoid. Bi-lobed at apex. Average lobe depth            0.3 cm.        -   Aspect.—Flat.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Velvety.        -   Apex.—2 obtuse lobes.        -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Apex near Purple N79C,            base near Purple N79A. Lower surface: Near RHS Purple N79C.            Fully opened: Upper surface: Mixture of Red-Purple 61A, near            apex and Purple N79C, on rest of surface. Lower surface:            Near RHS Purple N79C along margin, N79D rest of surface.            Fading: Upper surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 61A. Lower            surface: Near RHS Purple N79D.-   Throat:    -   -   Outer surface color.—Near RHS Purple 76D.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Interior tube color.—Near RHS White N155C.-   Calyx:    -   -   Form.—Funnelform. Individual sepals indistinguishable.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Sepal quantity.—5 fully fused.        -   Sepal texture.—Puberulent.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Color.—Upper and Lower Surfaces Near RHS Green 143A at apex,            base Yellow-Green 144D.        -   Fragrance.—Faint.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Average 4 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Flushed Violet 86A.        -   Texture.—Hirsute. Hairs less than 1 mm.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—Average 0.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number (per flower).—4.        -   Filament length.—Not measurable, fused to corolla tube.        -   Anthers.—Shape: Globular. Length: Approximately 0.1 cm.            Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green N144B.        -   Pollen.—Amount: Not present.-   Pistils:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Style.—Length: Approximately 1.4 cm. Color: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 150D.        -   Stigma.—Shape: 2 parted. Color: Near Yellow-Green 144C.        -   Ovary.—Length: Approximately 0.1 cm. Color: Near            Yellow-Green 144A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    normal diseases and pests of Verbena has been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from approximately    −1 C. degree to 32 C. degree.-   Drought tolerance: No tolerance for drought.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plantnamed ‘VVIPU08-0’ as herein illustrated and described.